Population in the largest city in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Population in the largest city was 15.86 in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
15.86
World rank
137th
of 179 countries
All-time high
25.36
in 1990
All-time low
6.7
in 1950
Years of data
15
1950–2020
Population in the largest city in Afghanistan, 1950–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 15.86 for population in the largest city in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in the largest city in Afghanistan peaked at 25.36 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 6.7, in 1950.
That places Afghanistan 137th out of 179 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Population in the largest city in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 6.7 | — |
| 1955 | 7.23 | +8.0% |
| 1960 | 7.89 | +9.0% |
| 1965 | 8.33 | +5.6% |
| 1970 | 8.65 | +3.9% |
| 1975 | 9.53 | +10.1% |
| 1980 | 13.56 | +42.3% |
| 1985 | 21.29 | +57.0% |
| 1990 | 25.36 | +19.1% |
| 1995 | 18.91 | -25.5% |
| 2000 | 18.74 | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 17.77 | -5.2% |
| 2010 | 16.99 | -4.4% |
| 2015 | 15.45 | -9.0% |
| 2020 | 15.86 | +2.6% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 15.86 is below the median for low income countries, which is 18.37, 86% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 15.86 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 22.65, 70% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6.97 | 6.7 | 7.23 | 2 |
| 1960s | 8.11 | 7.89 | 8.33 | 2 |
| 1970s | 9.09 | 8.65 | 9.53 | 2 |
| 1980s | 17.42 | 13.56 | 21.29 | 2 |
| 1990s | 22.13 | 18.91 | 25.36 | 2 |
| 2000s | 18.26 | 17.77 | 18.74 | 2 |
| 2010s | 16.22 | 15.45 | 16.99 | 2 |
| 2020s | 15.86 | 15.86 | 15.86 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More population data for Afghanistan
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4637 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.2412 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4637 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2115 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 74,075 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.39 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2522 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.424 (2100)
- Population density 199.65 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 9.03 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in the largest city in Afghanistan?
- Population in the largest city in Afghanistan was 15.86 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population in the largest city recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 25.36 in 1990.
- What is the lowest population in the largest city recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.7 in 1950.
- How does Afghanistan rank for population in the largest city?
- Afghanistan ranks 137th out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is population in the largest city rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Population in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).